On the occasion of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23, 2005 - November 23, 2023), Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, Management Department of Cổ Loa Vestige Site organized the exhibition "Cổ Loa Imperial Citadel - From legend to reality".

Cổ Loa is one of the important historical relics of Hanoi as well as Vietnam. This place has been the capital of Vietnam twice in history. It was the capital of the Au Lac state under King An Dương (3rd century BC) and the capital of King Ngô Quyền (10th century). In the 3rd century BC, the kingdom of Âu Lạc was established. King An Dương, with a strategic vision, moved the capital from Bạch Hạc area (today Việt Trì city, Phú Thọ province) to Cổ Loa land. Cổ Loa Citadel's large scale is proof of the high level of military technology of ancient Vietnamese civilization. Parallel to the development of wet rice agriculture is the progress of handicraft industries, especially metallurgy, which has developed to a high level. From there, population centers with economic, cultural and social development are formed.

Map of 3 Ramparts of Cổ Loa citadel

Archaeological excavations have clarified that the structure of Co Loa citadel consists of 3 closed ramparts, all of which were built on a large scale during the reign of King An Dương and reinforced a number of times afterward. In the inner and outer areas of the citadel, many vestiges related to the citadel have been discovered such as residential relics, bronze arrow casting relics, bronze drum hiding places... Since then, the mythological legends about King An Dương's construction of the citadel have been clarified, which is also proof of King An Dương's military genius, especially the technique of making and using bows and arrows.

Illustration of the story of fairies carrying soil to build a citadel

Source: Vietnamese History Comics - King An Dương, Kim Đồng Publishing House

Excavation of the Middle Rampart

Through many ups and downs of history, the citadel built by King An Dương has many changes under the influence of nature and humans. However, the vestiges of the oldest and largest citadel of ancient Vietnam and Southeast Asia are still present as a heroic and tragic past, thereby reminding future generations of the merits of our ancestors to defend and construct our country.

The exhibition "Cổ Loa Imperial Citadel - from legend to reality" is distilled from scientific works and research by scientists; through documents and images collected by the École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the Special National Monument Profile of the Thăng Long Heritage Conservation Center, photo sources of the Management Department of Cổ Loa Vestige Site, private photo collections... to spread tangible and intangible cultural values, promote the responsibility of local communities and tourists in preserving and promoting heritage values, contributing to preserving national cultural identity and developing local economic and social development.

Perspective of the Master Plan for preserving, embellishing and promoting the value of the Co\ổ Loa relic (scale 1/2000)

The exhibition includes 2 themes:

Theme 1: Legends of the Cổ Loa citadel

Theme 2: Cổ Loa Citadel at present

The exhibition is open for visitors from November 23, 2023, at the Exhibition House of Cổ Loa Relics, Chùa Village, Cổ Loa Commune, Đông Anh District, Hanoi.

MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF CỔ LOA VESTIGE SITE